Even if Andrew Smith is correct about anthropogenic (man-made) climate change, which would fly in the face of the vast majority of expert opinion, what harm is there in us reducing CO2 emissions anyway?

By investing more in renewable energy we’d reduce our reliance on energy imports and create thousands of jobs in design, construction and manufacturing. It doesn’t all have to be huge projects like wind, solar and tidal: local renewable energy cooperatives reduce the ‘big six’ stranglehold on energy supply and, by extension, pricing, while reducing fuel bills and helping local economies through training and installation. Making energy generation and supply more local is a major part of Green Party energy policy and would stop us shovelling money into the pockets of European energy companies’ shareholders’ pockets, something I’d have thought UKIP would support.

Our policy of cutting VAT on housing repairs from 20% to 5%, in support of the Federation of Master Builders campaign[1], could create 42,000 construction jobs while making housing more energy efficient. More jobs, lower fuel bills and reduced CO2 emissions. Who could argue with that?
Andrew Smith might not believe in anthropogenic climate change but he should support renewable energy even if only for the economic benefits to Britain.

Dave Plummer, Green Party town and district candidate, Waltham Abbbey South West.